Authorities in Japan have discovered three bodies inside a crater at the summit of Mount Fuji, one of the country's most renowned mountains. The identities of the individuals, including their gender and age, have not yet been confirmed. One of the bodies has been successfully brought down from the slopes, while efforts to retrieve the other two will resume pending weather conditions.
The bodies were found several meters apart, raising questions about whether the individuals were climbing the 12,388-foot mountain together. The incident occurred before the official climbing season began, with the climbers entering from the Shizuoka Prefecture side.
Separately, professional climber Keita Kurakami, 38, tragically passed away in a hospital after being discovered by authorities while climbing Mount Fuji from the Yamanashi Prefecture side. Mount Fuji can be ascended from both Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, with the climbing season for Yamanashi set to commence on July 1.
Mount Fuji, immortalized in ukiyo-e art by masters such as Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige, is a popular tourist destination in Japan. Despite its picturesque beauty, climbers are cautioned about the extreme cold temperatures, even in summer, and the importance of proper gear and clothing.
With approximately 300,000 people scaling Mount Fuji annually, the experience of watching the sunrise from the summit is considered a spiritual journey. However, concerns have arisen regarding overcrowding due to the influx of tourists. In response, the town of Fujikawaguchiko in Yamanashi has taken measures to discourage large crowds by erecting a black screen to obstruct views of the mountain.
